Antique Trunk With Metal Sheeting Cleaning

This is a guide about cleaning and restoring an old trunk.

Antique trunk with metal sheeting cleaning.

Antique steamer trunk large clean vintage victorian flat top chest w key c1895. Jul 24 2016 like most antique lovers you can largely overlook a piece s minor flaws to appreciate its obvious beauty. Pay special attention to grooves and indentations so. I suggest de glossing the surface of the aluminum with 320 grit sandpaper and then wiping the sheet metal clean with a lint free cloth and mineral spirits.

Rust is something you ll want to remove because it undercuts the beauty of a piece. The hardest part of the entire project is in the preparation of the piece. The metal on an antique trunk is designed to protect the trunks corners. Step 4 prop the trunk open and allow it to air dry completely.

A metal patina is a change in color that takes place with exposure to oils. Gently clean paper lined trunk interiors by spraying the vinegar solution on your cleaning cloth and carefully wiping down the interior. Trunk restoration is a combination of wood working metal craft and leather work so it helps to have some experience in all three fields. Clean metal antique trunks with a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle.

Set the antique trunk on a drop cloth or old blanket in a well ventilated area. Other non aluminum primers may not adhere well to the aluminum. Restoring a vintage steamer trunk. It is covered in a material that is torn in places.

All of the edges are metal and there are metal straps and leather handles. Metal brass steel and iron were often used to make the latches corners and edges of a vintage style steamer trunk. See picture at left these trunks were primarily covered with metal but also canvas and leather and have the horrendous nickname of waterfall trunk. Removing the old material covering.

Whether it s an heirloom or an antique store find an old trunk can be a wonder addition to your home for both storage and decoration. Remove surface dirt from the trunk with a microfiber cloth. Allow to dry for 48 hours. To some extent imperfections are exactly what make antiques so endearing and desirable.

How to clean rust off of antique metal trunks step 1. After years of use the antique metal may develop a characteristic patina. The statement i read said it the monitor trunk was named after the civil war iron clad battleship uss monitor because of the resemblance of the tops. But rust is another matter.